A legal highs baron whose synthetic cannabis product was blamed for causing severe health effects and psychotic episodes is building a luxury waterfront home on Auckland's North Shore with the proceeds of his recreational drug empire. Known as "Mr Kronic" and "the Kronic King", Wielenga's Auckland-based company Lightyears Ahead was reportedly turning over $700,000 a month selling the controversial product. The house Wielenga plans to tear down was considered for protection on Auckland Council's heritage schedule. Mr Kronic's Mansion• Legal highs baron Matthew Wielenga purchased a cliff-top waterfront property at Hauraki in September 2012 for $4.6m under a trust. • Wielenga, in his 30s, made a fortune selling the synthetic cannabis product Kronic before the government banned psychoactive substances in 2013.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 15, 2017 03:46 UTC